Camping body for pick-up trucks



May 16, 1961 w. J. HocKS ETAL CAMPING BODY FOR PICK-UP TRUCKS E ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw n MCC *EPA v s T HH Y Y m 5| m M i 111|@ 1|| l J Nfum MME w mm u I O 1 mm mm mm mm M um A l A u WM n. m. mm mm mw May 16, 1961 w. J. HocKs ETAL CAMPING BODY FOR PICK-UP TRUCKS Filed Oct. 5, 1958 May 16, 1961 w. J. HQCKS Em. 2,984,515

CAMPING BODY FOR PICK-UP TRUCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 3, 1958 INVENTORS AT TQR NEYS United States atent 2,984,515 CAMPING BODY FOR PICK-UP TRUCKS William J. Hocks and Marjorie E. Hocks, both of 2703 SE. Swain Ave., Milwaukie, Oreg.

Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,182 Claims. (Cl. 296-23) The present invention relates to bodies to be mounted on pick-up trucks for camping purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a camping body for pick-up trucks that can be easily mounted or removed by hoisting equipment or other suitable means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to simply and quickly secure the body to the truck. This body is designed somewhat wider than the truck body, and provides bunk space, cupboard space, in fact every kind of space needed while camping.

A further object of the invention is to provide removable body construction that can be converted from a camp body to a hauling body for the truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the class described above that while travelling over the highway the upper portion of the body can be collapsed or lowered, reducing air resistance and increasing the visibility of the driver.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention shown removed from the truck.

Figure 2 is a side view of the invention mounted on the truck with broken lines indicating the raised expanded position of the body.

Figure 3 is a rear View of the structure illustrated in Figure 2, with the body in raised expanded position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the body in raised expanded position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of the supporting posts for supporting the top of the body.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan sectional view, taken on line 9`9 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the step and bumper construction, taken on line 10-10 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a perspective diagrammatical lay out of the raising and lowering cable arrangement.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, taken on line 13-13 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary enlarged detail, illustrating 2,984,515 Patented May 16, 1961 how the folding seats are mounted to the floor of the body.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference character T indicates generally a conventional pick-up truck having an open bed body 15. A camping body is supported by the body 15 and includes a pair of side walls 16. The side walls 16 are positioned beyond the body 15 of the truck T, as best illustrated in Figures 7 and 13. The lower edges of the walls 16 are each supported by a horizontally disposed portion 17. The horizontal portions 17 are adapted to rest on the upper surface 1S of the body 15 of the truck T on an adapter spacer 19. The object of the adapter 19 is to adjust the body B to the particular pick-up truck bed 15 to which the body B is being attached.

A horizontal body portion 20 is secured to the adapter 19 and has extending downwardly therefrom vertical walls 21. Secured to the lower edges of walls 21 is a door 22, which is adapted to rest on the bottom 23 of the truck bed 15 and extend over the open tail gate of the truck T.

The side walls 16 are joined together at their forward end by a vertical transverse wall 24. A pair of inwardly extending rear end walls 25 are joined to the opposite side walls to form the rear of the body B. A door 26 is provided between the end walls 25 to permit entrance into and out of the body B.

The body B has a vertically movable top 27 mounted thereon. Vertical channels 28' are ixedly secured to the end walls 24 and 25 by bolts 29. Fixedly secured to the top 27 and extending downwardly therefrom are channel posts 30, which slide within the channels 28. The supporting posts 30 and channels 28' are located one in each corner of the body B.

The posts30 are raised and lowered within the channels 28 by action of cables 31 and 32, as seen in Figures 8 and l2. The cables 31, 32 are wrapped around and secured to a transverse shaft 33 journalled at 34 to the rear of the lower rear end of the body B, referring particularly to Figure 6. A crank 35 is mounted on the shaft 33 to revolve the shaft 33, which is held in the desired position by a ratchet and pawl 36. Other means of rotating the shaft 33 could be employed, such as an electric motor, hydraulic motor, or the like.

The cables 31 are trained over sheaves 37. The cables 32 are trained over sheaves 37a, 37b and 37e. The sheaves 37 and 37e` are journalled to the upper end of the channels 28, referring particularly to Figure 8. The free ends 38` of the cables 31, 32 are secured at 39 to the lower ends of the posts 30. The length of the cables 32 may be adjusted by the turnbuckles 40. This is necessary in order to maintain the top 27 in proper alignment with the upper edge 41 of the body B.

The top 27, when in retracted or lowered position, is aligned with and sealed to the upper edge 41 of the body B by a resilient strip 44. When the top 27 is in its extended or raised position, a curtain 45 of flexible waterproof material closes the gap between the top 27 and the upper edge 41 of the body B. The curtain 45 is supported at its upper edge in a guideway 46 mounted on the top 27. A plurality of clips or hangers 47 secured to the curtain 45 in spaced relation to one another are slidably positioned in the guideway 46 so that the curtain 45 can be collapsed or folded within itself. The lower edge 4.8i of the curtain 45 is clipped to the upper edge of the body B by way of separable fasteners 49.

Referring to Figure 3, the curtain 45 is secured together by a zipper 50 at the rear of the body B. In order to get in or out of the body B, the zipper 50 is opened and the curtain 4S pushed back towards the side of the body B, permittingentry therethrough after openingthe door 26. Referring to Figure 7, the curtain 45 is secured together by a zipper 51 at the front of the body B, so that the same can be separated for removing the-fcrtains.45 when lowering the topi'. 27.

Standard windows and screen assemblies 52 are pro'.- vided for-the side walls 16 ofrfthe /body B; also a window 53V is provided in the front wall 24 and door 26 to provideffor better visibility while travelling.

Referring particularly'to Figures 4, 6 and 7, a sink 54 fis mounted within a drainboard 55, which is spaced abovethe horizontal member 17. The sink 54 has a fitting 56 to which may be attached a'hose (not shown) for draining'the same. LocatedA under the-sinkI 54y and drainboard 55 are cabinets 57 and 58, havin-g shelving 59 -therein for holding various utensils. A refrigerator 60V is located within the rear ofthe bodyB'V resting on the floor 22.

In installing the body B onv the truck T, the tail gate 61 is lowered to a horizontal position, as best illustrated in Figure 6, allowing the Hoor 22-of ythe body B' to`re`st thereon.-

Referring now to Figure 5, spaced above the horizontal portion 17 is a fixed worktable'62. A table 63 is hingedly mounted to the table 62 by a hinge 64. Located under the hinged table 63 is a cook stove 65. When the hinged table 63 is in position covering the stove 65,v it can be used as a vanity table and when the stove 65 is in use the table 63 is hinged up and leans against-the wall 16 of the body B covering the screen and window 52, preventing the same from being smoked up from the cooking being performed on the'stove 65.

Cabinets 66V and v67 are provided with shelving 68 for utensils. A clothes closet 69 is provided at the rear end of-the body-B. The rear door 26 of the body B has shelving 70 formed therein with a secondary closure door 71 f'or'closing-thev same, providing additional space for utensils and the like.

Referring to Figure 6, a table panel 72 is removably mounted to the front wall-=24 at 73. A bracket 74 is hingedly mounted at 75 to the front wall 24 and is located in the position shown in Figure 6 for supporting thepanel- 72 horizontally when used as a table. The bracket 74 -is folded to the position shown in Figures 4 and 7 when the table 72 is not in use, the table 72 itself being hinged along the line 76 so as to fold to the position shown in Figures 4 and 7, against the wall 24.

The panel 72 is used as a bed support when desired and is so shown in the broken line position 77, referring to Figures 4 and 7, and in yfull lines in Figure 5, its ends resting on the cleats 78 formed on the vertical portion 21 of the body B. Referring to- Figure 13, storage compartments 79 are provided between the vertical portion 21 of the body BV and the body 15 of the truck T. Removable covers 80 are provided for closing the same.

Referring to Figure 4, combination storage boxes and seats 8-1-and 82 are-Slidably mounted on rails 84. Re. ferring to Figure 14, rails 84 cooperate with the guides 83 iixedly secured to the bottom of the boxes 81 and 82. When the panel 72 is being used for the bed, the boxes 81, 82 are located as shown in Figure 4. When it is `desired to use one or both of the boxes 8l, 82 as seats, they are pushed back along the guides 83, as shown in Figure 6, their tops 85 being raised to the position shown. Cushions 86 are illustrated in broken lines.

Whenthe boxes 81, 82 are used as a bed, their tops 85`are hinged down as illustrated in Figure 5, providing a completed platform supporting the cushions 87 providingf a second bed for additional sleeping quarters. The boxes 81,' 82 have a secondary lid 88 which provides access to their interior for storage of materials. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, storage compartments 89 are provided tfor further storage within the top 27 of the body B.

Awater cooler 90 is located on top of the refrigeratorV 60;' A 'standard ventilator91-is-.provided in the top-27 and, of course, a lighting system (not shown) is also provided.

Referring particularly to Figures 6, 10 and 17, slldable compartments 92 and 92 are provided on and under the rear of the truck T. Secured to `the frame 93 is a pair of channels 94. Slidably mounted within the channels 94 are horizontal slidel members 95 xedly secured to and supporting the compartments 92, 92' and the bumper 96. The compartment' 92' carries the" spare tire 97, while the compartments 92 are adapted to carry Whatever is desired, such as tools and the like.

The bottom door 98 is hingedly secured to the compartment 92' at 99. The compartments 92, 92. are adapted to be pulled out to the broken line position as indicated by numeral t100 in Figure 6, when the body B is in use and shoved back to the full line position when the truck T is moving over the highway.

Referring to Figure 2, an elongated compartment 191 isl provided for carrying.v axes, shovels, fishing tackleand other equipmentused on camping trips.

Outwardly extendingk hooks 182- are provided onv the four corners of the vbody B to which cablesfor chains '103V'm'ay be attached for hoisting'the'body B from the truck T when not in use.

When it is desired to use poses,-it-is lowered l the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in F1gure 2 and secured thereto by bolts 19', also referring to Figure 13. The proper adapter or spacer-19'being used to bring thebottom 22 ofthe body B in contact with the bottom 23 of the truck T. n

To raise the top 27, the cr'ank'35,f.referring to Figure l2, is rtatedcausing the cables 31 and 32 to'wind on the shaft'33 Vand raise the'posts 30within the vertical channel posts 28.V Thecurtains 45'are stored while not in use and on raising the top, the hangers or clips 47 are entered into the guide' 46 at the point 45?, referring to Figures V3 and 7, and ydrawn around to either closedor partially closed position, closing' the space between the top 27 and the upper edge of the b'ody B.Y

To get in or out of 'the body B, the zipper 5i? is opened, Figure 3, and the curtain 45 pu'she'd back towards the sidesof the body B, permittinglent'ry'or exit in or out of the body B.

In the event that it is desirable to'have a cargo carrying covered truck T, and the same is not to be used for camping purposes, the horizontal portion 20 'is removed from the adapter 19, together withV the vertical wall 2l and floor 22 along with the contents of the body B such as the panel "l2, boxes 81 and 82, the refrigerator 60, cooler 90,` andthe closet 69.` When the vertical wall 2i., bottom 22, horizontal member '28 'arefremoved, the drainboard 55, sink 54, cabinets, including the stove 65 and worktable 62 are removed, therefore it canbe seen that wel haveV a covering fora truck T enclosing the pick-up body 1S.

WeV have illustrated in these drawingsa single wall construction, but we would not vw'sh to be' limited to this, as double insulated `wall construction could be used.

The body B can be used separately for livingquarters when removed from the truck T. When the body B is used separately from the truck T, a downwardly extending side wall 21A is positioned in spaced parallel relation to the side wall 21 with its upper end securedk to the horizontal portion and its llower end to the side wall the body B'- for camping pur- 21. The side wall 21A`replaces` thepick-'up body l5' in forming the cabinets 79'. l

Having4 thus described the preferred'embodiment of the invention, it should be understoodL that Vnii'r'nerous structural modifications and adaptations may bereso'rted" to without departing-from thefscp'eof the appended claims.

What is claimed isf l. A camping body forpick-up` trucks comprising" an i open top lower compartment, means for detachably se-` curing said-lower compartmenttoea-pick-#up tru'ck,"-a-hori on to the body 15 of the truck T- from zontal top, a sealing strip detachably sealing said top to the open top of said compartment, channel means in the corners of said lower compartment cooperating with correspondingly positioned channel posts on said top, cable and crank means connected to said posts for elevating and supporting said top in vertically spaced relation with respect to said lower compartment, a .guideway on said top, a two-part flexible curtain extending entirely around said body having a plurality of spaced apart hangers on its upper edge slidably supported in said guideway, separable fastener means detachably securing said curtain to said lower compartment, zipper means for releasably securing one pair of the abutting vertical edges of said curtain together at the front of the body and additional zipper means for securing the opposite abutting vertical edges of the two piece curtain together at the rear of the body.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower compartment includes a generally rectangular upper portion having spaced apart horizontal lower side portions and a generally rectangular lower portion having vertical walls engaging the confronting edges of the horizontal lower side portions and bolt means detachably securing said lower portion to said upper portion, said lower p0rtion comprising an adaptor to accommodate said body to a variety of sizes of trucks.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means securing said lower compartment to said truck is attached through said upper portion whereby said lower portion may be removed from said upper portion and from said truck.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower compartment is provided with a plurality of storage compartments therein.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower compartment is provided with a convertable seat bed secured therein.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,409,555 Kruger Mar. 14, 1922 2,292,107 Doepke Aug. 4, 1942 2,559,029 Randolph July 3, 1951 2,701,393 Madsen et al. Feb. 8, 1955 2,797,124 Hauptli June 25, 1957 2,846,262 Ray Aug. 5, v1958 2,862,758 Robertson Dec. 2, 1958 2,879,103 Hall Mar. 24, 1959 

